Lace-hole protector for driving-belts



(No Model.)

G. W. SOUTHWIGK.

LACE HOLE PROTECTOR FOR DRIVING BELTS.

N0. 397,252. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. SOU'lHlVICK, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LACE-HOLE PROTECTOR FOR DRIVING-BELTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,252, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed May 21, 1888. Serial No. 274,624. (No model.)

To all 2071,0711, it Hwy concern.-

Ke it known that I, GEORGE W. SoUrHwwK, of Stamford ,iu the countyo'f Fairfleld andState of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lace-Hole Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a protector or re-enforce for the lace-holes or eyelets of driving-bolts designed to prevent the lacingeord (or metal clips, as the case may be) from pulling out 01 the leather; and to this end it consists in the peculiar construction of the protector or re-en force, which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of the protector; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, an i11- verted plan view; Fig. 4, a top plan view, and Fig. 5 shows one of the meeting ends of the belt with one of my devices applied thereto.

A represents the protector or re-enforce, which is made of metal, and is bent around in U shape, somewhat like a horseshoe. On one side of each of its branches, at or near the euds,there is formed a prong or spur, 13, while at the middle curve, where the branches meet,

' having on the inner side of the bend a flange,

there is formed a curved flange, C, which projects from the same side of the body portion as the prongs or spurs l3. \Vhen these protectors are to be applied to the eyelet or lace hole of the belt, they are set in the latter, as shown in Fig. 5, the two prongs B B being embedded in the leather at a point back of the eyelet, where it gets the full strength of the belt, while the flange C bears on the strainiugor pulling side of the eyelet and also gives a further hold by the wide bearing which it affords against the leather.

The prongs B may simply pass into and be embedded in the leather of the belt, but they are preferably driven through and clinched. When the protectors are thus seated around the eyelets or holes, the lace-cord is applied in the usual way, or in the place of the lacecord the metal clips or hooks L (see dotted lines, Fig. 5) may be used.

In any case the flange C gives a broad bearing to the lace-cord or metal hook and prev vents the strain from cutting or wearing the same in two.

I am aware that it is not new to provide eyelet-holes with metal re-enforeings, and that button-holes have had a metal guard secured about their edges by means of clips, and I do not claim this broadly; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- The lace or eyelet hole protector herein described, consisting of a fiat U-shaped metal body portion having prongs B formed on its two branches adapted to penetrate the solid material of the belt back of the eyelet, and

C, projecting in the same direction as the prongs and adapted to form a flat bearing at one side of the eyelet-hole, substantially as and for the purpose described.

GEO. W. SOUTHWIOK.

Witnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, C. SEDeWIcK. 

